The Four-Day Workweek: Dream or Delusion for India?

Ah, the four-day workweek—the magical cure-all that promises to transform not just the workplace, but the entire fabric of Indian society. What a wonderful idea. In theory, anyway. But let's pump the brakes for a second and actually think this through, shall we?

I recently read a blog on one of the country’s most popular HR social channels, and by the time I was done, I was wondering if a 3rd grader had proofed it. A supposedly revolutionary idea with imminent threat to organizations that don’t adopt it presented with zero practical insight—impressive.

Myopic View: Is IT the Only Sector?

The article suggests that India’s entire work culture should be reshaped around the struggles of IT professionals, which might sound like a reasonable starting point. But here’s the thing: IT is only a small part of India’s vast workforce. Are we really going to overhaul the workweek based on the needs of one sector that operates in front of screens all day? Sure, IT is important, but so are manufacturing, agriculture, and retail. These sectors operate on entirely different dynamics, and the idea of a four-day workweek would be laughable to most working in them.

Another Fad? Permanent WFH Wasn't a Dream Come True

Let’s not forget the permanent work-from-home experiment that swept across companies like Google, Twitter, and Microsoft. Remember how these “forward-thinking” companies quickly rolled back those policies when they realized WFH wasn’t the utopia they had envisioned? So, why are we rushing to copy another Western trend, like the four-day workweek, when the track record for such fads is so shaky? History has already shown that such bold workplace changes are often ill-thought-out and unsustainable.

Developing vs. First World: Let’s Get Real

The article hints at the possibility of India simply following the West's lead. But here’s the thing—we’re not Germany or the U.S., and pretending we are doesn’t change the reality. India’s economic pressures are vastly different. Businesses operate on razor-thin margins, and many workers already put in 40-50 hours a week just to make ends meet. Expecting that reducing the workweek would magically solve these problems is nothing short of delusional. We need to address the real issues—like poverty, inequality, and job creation—before we start contemplating such dramatic changes to the workweek.

The Replacement Myth: A Gross Oversight

One of the arguments often put forth is that reducing hours will allow young workers to replace those who opt for fewer hours. Sure, in theory, this may sound like a viable solution. But let’s be real: this mindset reflects a short-term, disposable approach to labor. Quality workers aren’t so easily replaceable, and treating them as expendable undermines the long-term health of the workforce. A smaller, more rested workforce could very well be replaced, but do we really want a society where workers feel they’re just interchangeable parts in an economic machine?

Emulating the West: Is That Always Wise?

India has a long history of trying to imitate the West, and it rarely works out the way we hope. We’ve tried to import Western business models, cultural norms, and work patterns before, and they often backfire. So, why should we suddenly believe that just because a few countries in Europe and the U.S. are experimenting with the four-day workweek, India should follow suit without considering our unique challenges? The reality is, India isn’t built like the West, and simply copying their models won’t solve our problems—it will likely create new ones.

The Kirana Store Argument Is Just Nonsense

The article also proposes that every small business in India should mimic the digital-first, startup model, citing examples like cloud kitchens and e-commerce stores. But not every business operates like a startup in a metro city. Local kirana stores, for instance, stay open 24/7 to meet the demand of their customers—not because of some new-age work revolution. The vast majority of small businesses in India follow a practical, demand-driven approach that simply doesn't align with the Western concept of the "workweek."

L&T Chairman and "Corporate Dinosaurs"—Let’s Not Be Stupid

The article criticizes the comments made by the L&T Chairman about long hours, branding them as outdated and unnecessary. But here’s the reality: no one is advocating for 100-hour workweeks. What’s being questioned is the notion that employees should be expected to "waste" time while still getting paid. Some jobs require more time to get done. The expectation that everyone can just work fewer hours without any negative consequences is not just unrealistic—it’s unfair to those who already work hard to meet deadlines and deliver results.

Global Demand for Work Hours—Not as Simple as 9-to-5

The global economy has long moved past the rigid 9-to-5 work structure. As India becomes an increasingly important player on the world stage, we can’t afford to be stuck in the past. Global collaborations, time zone differences, and remote work mean that work never truly stops. If Indian businesses are to remain competitive, they’ll have to embrace this new reality, not retreat into an outdated model of fixed work hours.

10-Hour Days—Would You Really Be Fine With That?

The proposal to work fewer days but extend the hours to 10 per day may sound appealing in theory, but have we really thought through the implications? Packing more hours into fewer days doesn’t eliminate the stress of a long workweek—it may just amplify it. Longer days can lead to burnout, reduced productivity, and a deterioration of mental health. And here’s the kicker: companies aren’t likely to keep salaries the same while cutting hours. Basic math suggests that this isn’t going to end well for workers in the long run.

Exploiting the Glaring Flaws in the Four-Day Workweek Fix

Overpopulation: Will a Shorter Workweek Actually Help?

Let’s talk about India’s most pressing issue—overpopulation. With a population exceeding 1.4 billion, we’re already struggling to provide basic infrastructure, jobs, and healthcare. So, the idea that cutting workdays will magically address this complex challenge is laughable at best. If anything, fewer workdays might intensify the competition for jobs, as more people scramble to fill the limited work hours. Think about it—if you’re trimming down the workweek and creating fewer hours to produce goods or services, the existing workforce is going to be stretched even thinner. Will it solve the overpopulation problem? Absolutely not. It may, however, create further inequality in a job market where supply is already far outstripping demand.

Commuting: Less Workweek = More Traffic Jam?

The article’s suggestion that fewer workdays will lead to a magical reduction in commuting time is simply wishful thinking. In India, our cities are choked with traffic, and infrastructure bottlenecks make commuting a daily nightmare. Cutting the workweek from five to four days won't get rid of traffic jams; it may just make them worse. Here's why: More people might choose to work on the same days, leading to even denser traffic. The promise of less time spent commuting might sound appealing, but without a massive overhaul of our transportation networks—an issue far beyond just shortening work hours—this is little more than a pipe dream.

Pollution: Fewer Workdays Won’t Cure Air Quality

Another glaring flaw in the four-day workweek argument is the presumption that it will somehow reduce pollution. While fewer commutes sounds like a great idea in theory, the reality is far more complicated. India’s pollution crisis isn’t just about the volume of people driving to work—it’s about massive industrial emissions, construction dust, the burning of crops in rural areas, and a host of other issues. A reduction in workdays won’t eliminate these sources of pollution. Sure, if fewer people are commuting, it could marginally reduce traffic-related air quality issues, but we’re talking about a drop in the ocean. Until we focus on infrastructure, cleaner fuels, and stricter environmental regulations, we can’t expect a four-day workweek to solve a pollution problem decades in the making.

The Digital Divide: Not Everyone Is Ready for This Revolution

The author makes the rather optimistic assumption that digital infrastructure and smartphones will seamlessly enable this shift. While it’s true that mobile technology has exploded in India, we can’t ignore the huge digital divide that still exists, particularly in rural areas. For millions of workers, particularly in informal sectors, access to technology that would support flexible work is simply not a reality. Reducing workdays sounds great for the tech-savvy metro workers, but will it work for the millions who depend on physical presence—whether in agriculture, retail, or manual labor? And while we’re at it, how will small businesses like kirana stores and the informal sectors deal with this? They don’t work on schedules dictated by the Western concept of the "workweek," so how will this “revolution” practically play out across India?

The Real Cost of a Shorter Workweek: Fewer Jobs, Not More

The article claims that reduced work hours could "create more employment opportunities" by shifting hours around. But in a country where underemployment and job scarcity are rampant, creating fewer hours for existing employees doesn’t translate to more jobs—it simply translates to fewer working hours per person. The reality is that companies are not going to hire more people to cover fewer hours if the total workload remains the same. This creates a bottleneck where fewer people do the same amount of work, potentially leaving many workers on the sidelines. The solution isn’t to reduce the hours of the already-overworked, but to expand economic opportunities through infrastructure, skill-building, and better job creation.

Conclusion: A Dream Too Far for India

In the end, the four-day workweek sounds like a great idea for those sitting comfortably in the West, but it’s a bit of a stretch for India. While it may work in some developed economies with robust infrastructure and stable job markets, India faces a different set of challenges that can’t be solved by simply shortening the workweek. Overpopulation, traffic congestion, pollution, the digital divide, and economic pressures are all real and urgent problems that require thoughtful, practical solutions—not trendy workplace experiments.

Before we jump on the bandwagon of a four-day workweek, let’s take a step back and focus on what truly matters: improving infrastructure, creating jobs, and addressing the disparities in access to technology and resources. Until we have a foundation in place that can support such a drastic shift, the idea of a four-day workweek remains, for India, a luxury most of the workforce can’t afford.